<i>Verticillium dahliae VdPBP1</i> Transcription Factor Is Required for Hyphal Growth, Virulence, and Microsclerotia Formation
<i>Verticillium dahliae</i>, a fungal pathogen that affects more than 200 plant species, including tomatoes, requires specific proteins for its early steps in plant infection. One such crucial protein, <i>VdPBP1</i>, exhibits high expression in the presence of tomato roots. I...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2024-01-01
|
| Series: | Microorganisms |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/12/2/265 |
| _version_ | 1827343155298566144 |
|---|---|
| author | Huong Thi Nguyen Thanh Thi Duong Vu Xuan Nguyen Tien-Dung Nguyen Thuc Tri Bui Dung Thuy Nguyen Pham |
| author_facet | Huong Thi Nguyen Thanh Thi Duong Vu Xuan Nguyen Tien-Dung Nguyen Thuc Tri Bui Dung Thuy Nguyen Pham |
| author_sort | Huong Thi Nguyen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <i>Verticillium dahliae</i>, a fungal pathogen that affects more than 200 plant species, including tomatoes, requires specific proteins for its early steps in plant infection. One such crucial protein, <i>VdPBP1</i>, exhibits high expression in the presence of tomato roots. Its 313-amino acid C-terminal section restores adhesion in nonadhesive <i>Saccharomyces cerevisiae</i> strains. To uncover its role, we employed a combination of bioinformatics, genetics, and morphological analyses. Our findings underscore the importance of <i>VdPBP1</i> in fungal growth and pathogenesis. Bioinformatic analysis revealed that the <i>VdPBP1</i> gene consists of four exons and three introns, encoding a 952-codon reading frame. The protein features a 9aaTAD domain, LsmAD, and PAB1 DNA-binding sites, as well as potential nuclear localization and transmembrane helix signals. Notably, the deletion of a 1.1 kb fragment at the gene’s third end impedes microsclerotia formation and reduces pathogenicity. Mutants exhibit reduced growth and slower aerial mycelial development compared to the wild type. The <i>VdPBP1</i> deletion strain does not induce disease symptoms in tomato plants. Furthermore, <i>VdPBP1</i> deletion correlates with downregulated microsclerotia formation-related genes, and promoter analysis reveals regulatory elements, including sites for Rfx1, Mig1, and Ste12 proteins. Understanding the regulation and target genes of <i>VdPBP1</i> holds promise for managing <i>Verticillium</i> wilt disease and related fungal pathogens. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T22:21:08Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a6100b2b6dd44fba8e426e16c96f548e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2607 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T22:21:08Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Microorganisms |
| spelling | doaj.art-a6100b2b6dd44fba8e426e16c96f548e2024-02-23T15:28:01ZengMDPI AGMicroorganisms2076-26072024-01-0112226510.3390/microorganisms12020265<i>Verticillium dahliae VdPBP1</i> Transcription Factor Is Required for Hyphal Growth, Virulence, and Microsclerotia FormationHuong Thi Nguyen0Thanh Thi Duong1Vu Xuan Nguyen2Tien-Dung Nguyen3Thuc Tri Bui4Dung Thuy Nguyen Pham5Faculty of Biotechnology, Thai Nguyen University of Sciences, Thai Nguyen 24000, VietnamFaculty of Biotechnology and Food Technology, Thai Nguyen University of Agriculture and Forestry, Thai Nguyen 24000, VietnamFaculty of Biotechnology and Food Technology, Thai Nguyen University of Agriculture and Forestry, Thai Nguyen 24000, VietnamFaculty of Biotechnology and Food Technology, Thai Nguyen University of Agriculture and Forestry, Thai Nguyen 24000, VietnamFaculty of Biotechnology and Food Technology, Thai Nguyen University of Agriculture and Forestry, Thai Nguyen 24000, VietnamNTT Institute of Applied Technology and Sustainable Development, Nguyen Tat Thanh University, Ho Chi Minh City 70000, Vietnam<i>Verticillium dahliae</i>, a fungal pathogen that affects more than 200 plant species, including tomatoes, requires specific proteins for its early steps in plant infection. One such crucial protein, <i>VdPBP1</i>, exhibits high expression in the presence of tomato roots. Its 313-amino acid C-terminal section restores adhesion in nonadhesive <i>Saccharomyces cerevisiae</i> strains. To uncover its role, we employed a combination of bioinformatics, genetics, and morphological analyses. Our findings underscore the importance of <i>VdPBP1</i> in fungal growth and pathogenesis. Bioinformatic analysis revealed that the <i>VdPBP1</i> gene consists of four exons and three introns, encoding a 952-codon reading frame. The protein features a 9aaTAD domain, LsmAD, and PAB1 DNA-binding sites, as well as potential nuclear localization and transmembrane helix signals. Notably, the deletion of a 1.1 kb fragment at the gene’s third end impedes microsclerotia formation and reduces pathogenicity. Mutants exhibit reduced growth and slower aerial mycelial development compared to the wild type. The <i>VdPBP1</i> deletion strain does not induce disease symptoms in tomato plants. Furthermore, <i>VdPBP1</i> deletion correlates with downregulated microsclerotia formation-related genes, and promoter analysis reveals regulatory elements, including sites for Rfx1, Mig1, and Ste12 proteins. Understanding the regulation and target genes of <i>VdPBP1</i> holds promise for managing <i>Verticillium</i> wilt disease and related fungal pathogens.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/12/2/265<i>Verticillium</i> wilt disease<i>VdPBP1</i>fungal growthmicrosclerotiapathogenicity |
| spellingShingle | Huong Thi Nguyen Thanh Thi Duong Vu Xuan Nguyen Tien-Dung Nguyen Thuc Tri Bui Dung Thuy Nguyen Pham <i>Verticillium dahliae VdPBP1</i> Transcription Factor Is Required for Hyphal Growth, Virulence, and Microsclerotia Formation Microorganisms <i>Verticillium</i> wilt disease <i>VdPBP1</i> fungal growth microsclerotia pathogenicity |
| title | <i>Verticillium dahliae VdPBP1</i> Transcription Factor Is Required for Hyphal Growth, Virulence, and Microsclerotia Formation |
| title_full | <i>Verticillium dahliae VdPBP1</i> Transcription Factor Is Required for Hyphal Growth, Virulence, and Microsclerotia Formation |
| title_fullStr | <i>Verticillium dahliae VdPBP1</i> Transcription Factor Is Required for Hyphal Growth, Virulence, and Microsclerotia Formation |
| title_full_unstemmed | <i>Verticillium dahliae VdPBP1</i> Transcription Factor Is Required for Hyphal Growth, Virulence, and Microsclerotia Formation |
| title_short | <i>Verticillium dahliae VdPBP1</i> Transcription Factor Is Required for Hyphal Growth, Virulence, and Microsclerotia Formation |
| title_sort | i verticillium dahliae vdpbp1 i transcription factor is required for hyphal growth virulence and microsclerotia formation |
| topic | <i>Verticillium</i> wilt disease <i>VdPBP1</i> fungal growth microsclerotia pathogenicity |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/12/2/265 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT huongthinguyen iverticilliumdahliaevdpbp1itranscriptionfactorisrequiredforhyphalgrowthvirulenceandmicrosclerotiaformation AT thanhthiduong iverticilliumdahliaevdpbp1itranscriptionfactorisrequiredforhyphalgrowthvirulenceandmicrosclerotiaformation AT vuxuannguyen iverticilliumdahliaevdpbp1itranscriptionfactorisrequiredforhyphalgrowthvirulenceandmicrosclerotiaformation AT tiendungnguyen iverticilliumdahliaevdpbp1itranscriptionfactorisrequiredforhyphalgrowthvirulenceandmicrosclerotiaformation AT thuctribui iverticilliumdahliaevdpbp1itranscriptionfactorisrequiredforhyphalgrowthvirulenceandmicrosclerotiaformation AT dungthuynguyenpham iverticilliumdahliaevdpbp1itranscriptionfactorisrequiredforhyphalgrowthvirulenceandmicrosclerotiaformation |